U.S. Navy Begins Search for Machine Learning Combat Assistants on Submarines - Naval News

A U.S. Navy Request For Information (RFI) has outlined the future of subsurface naval combat capability within the AN/BYG-1 combat system, the U.S. Navy’s undersea warfare combat system used on all American in-service submarines, as well as submarines operated by the Royal Australian Navy.

The RFI lays out three core capability updates; a tactical control re-architecture and integration plan, a payload re-architecture and integration plan, and the development and integration of a new Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning (AI/ML) Tactical Decision Aid (TDA).

The notice was posted by the PEO UWS Submarine Combat and Weapons Control Program Office (PMS 425). According to PMS 425, various requirements are being laid out to support a new method of integrating submarine warfare systems and weapons in a more streamlined manner.

The new capabilities delivered by a selected contractor will be fielded by the U.S. Navy, the Royal Australian Navy, and, according to PEO UWS, potentially the Australia/UK/US (AUKUS) Joint Program Office submarine as well.

The RFI lists a large number of requirements for AN/BYG-1 modifications, which include containerization of AN/BYG-1 capabilities, integration of new strike components, addition of tactical decision aids that leverage artificial intelligence and machine learning, integration of third party capabilities with AN/BYG-1, delivery of incremental AN/BYG-1 application software builds every thirteen weeks, and continued integration efforts for the Compact Rapid Attack Weapon (CRAW), unmanned underwater vehicles (UUV), heavyweight torpedoes (HWT), unmanned aerial systems (UAS), and undersea countermeasures.

The notional award date for a contract to deliver these capabilities is set sometime in July 2027 with one base year and four option years. The U.S. Navy expects delivery of systems to be in ready-to-run fashion as a certified, fully-tested, production-ready hardware and software suite by delivery.

The AN/BYG-1 is expected to take a much heavier role in defensive and offensive management with the addition of Mk 58 CRAW torpedoes, added to U.S. Navy attack submarines. CRAW is a capability developed by university and industry teams that aims to dramatically increase the number of packed torpedoes in each tube, according to the U.S. Navy. The Office of Naval Research developed the multi-packing technology as part of Project Revolver, a new launch capability for Virginia-class submarine torpedo tubes. CRAW will also add a defensive anti-torpedo capability to attack submarines when fielded in its Increment 2 variant.

The future AN/BYG-1 combat system will manage all aspects of offensive and defensive engagements with CRAW, as well as other UUV delivery methods like those currently being sought by the Defense Innovation Unit which seek to deliver 12.75″ UUVs for one-way attack missions, extending the reach of CRAW or other novel weapons.